162 MATESHIP WITH BIRDS 



back consists of about 12 distinct syllables, and is 

 finished with an indescribable, delightful, jubilant 

 note. In every instance the female commences the 

 warble, the male falling in at the last note, but hold- 

 ing it out longer than the female. The White-back 

 rarely indulges in a song, rendering it in less 

 musical style, and only in a chorus. The syllables 

 are fewer and shorter. ... In temperament the 

 White-back appears to be the more savage of the 

 two. In breeding-time the White-back will attack 

 almost any living thing of large dimensions, the 

 Black-back rarely interfering with anybody. . . ." 



Irrespective of whether bush dwellers in Southern 

 Australia will agree with Mr. Hall's comparative 

 criticism of the carol of the White-backed Magpie, 

 there is no room for dispute as to its cheerfully- 

 truculent nature. When a pair of these masterful 

 Australians "peg out a claim" in the Spring-time 

 they assume a monarchy over all they survey and 

 there is a special embargo, born of experience, 

 against roving boys.* The policy is even more 

 offensive than defensive; swishing wings may hum 

 about the ears of innocent youth ere he is within a 

 quarter-mile of the sacred nest. Nerve-racking in 

 its suddenness, this rushing sound is calculated to 

 upset the equilibrium of a bush-loiterer who, 

 engrossed in other interests, has failed to catch the 



*From a small school earl's essay: "I am trying to write 

 on the birds, but my selfish brother has taken all the best 

 things I was going to say. I don't call that fair, and I am 

 going to laugh the next time the Magpies take his hat and 

 peck his head when we are going to school. They don't like 

 boys, and neither do I." 



